Grassroots Football Initiative Announces £100,000 Super Grant

Football life has already changed for eight grassroots football clubs, following the announcement in December that they had each successfully secured £50,000 worth of funding from the Budweiser Club Futures programme.

Now one of these clubs is on course for a huge season bonus as they go head to head in a bid to win an additional £100,000.

Football fans will decide which club they want to see receive a massive £100,000 Super Grant top-up from the programme, which is backed by FA Cup sponsors Budweiser and The FA. From 28th January until 28th February 2013, fans can view the clubs’ videos and cast their votes on facebook.com/budweiseruk and facebook.com/thefacup.

Budweiser Club Futures is helping clubs improve their facilities, such as clubhouses and parking areas. Launched in August 2012, Budweiser Club Futures is investing £1million directly into grassroots football in the UK during the 2012/13 and 2013/14 seasons as part of Budweiser’s FA Cup sponsorship. The programme shines a light on grassroots football and help clubs to help themselves, making each team more sustainable within the community.

Budweiser Club Futures ambassador, Alan Pardew,said: “Having started my career at grassroots level, I know just how hard it is to sustain a local club and can appreciate the importance of a programme like Budweiser Club Futures.

“The clubs have already received a significant amount of money at the £50,000 stage but this injection would be like a huge lottery win for one club.

“We had some great applications at the £50,000 stage and had hard decisions to make in choosing the eight winning clubs. This is why we thought it best to hand the £100,000 vote over to the football fans!”

Budweiser European Marketing Director, Iain Newell, said: “Non-league clubs are really important to the future of the beautiful game and to local communities.

“It has been great to be able to give these eight clubs the financial boost they deserve following their successful applications. We’re looking forward to seeing the improvements the funding helps each club make and wish them good luck in the Facebook vote.”

The eight winning clubs are:

AFC Blackpool – North West

Blyth Town FC – North East & Yorkshire

Evergreen FC – East

Raynes Park Vale – London

Bardon Hill FC – East Midlands

Pegasus Juniors FC – West Midlands

South Park FC – South East

Camelford FC – South West

For more information on The FA Cup with Budweiser and ‘Budweiser Club Futures’ please visit www.TheFA.com/TheFACup